Sonic the Hedgehog 3just hinted at an epic crossover that has been desired by many for 26 years. Theending ofSonic the Hedgehog 2teased another of these major video game moments for fans with the confirmation that Shadow the Hedgehog would appear in the sequel. Now, thestory ofSonic the Hedgehog 3is looming closer as the marketing for the film picks up speed.
IfSonic the Hedgehog 3’s castwas not exciting enough, primarily thanks to Keanu Reeves as Shadow, the trailer raised anticipation even more. Shadow’s inclusion and his scuffles against Team Sonic look epic enough to spawn even morelive-actionSonicmovies and showsbeyond the trilogy. Similarly, the interplay between the characters looks just as hilarious, with a snippet of this in the most recentSonic the Hedgehog 3trailer hinting at a crossover 28 years in the making.
Sonic 3’s Detective Pikachu Reference Means Pokémon Exists In Sonic The Hedgehog’s World
A Throwaway Tails Joke Could Be The Gateway To A Larger Video Game Universe On Film
The opening of theSonic the Hedgehog 3trailer shows Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails hanging out at a place called the Chao Garden, another reference to the Sonic video games. Two young girls come to their table and ask Tails if he is Detective Pikachu, causing Knuckles to laugh and remark that Tails does look like aPokémon. While this is obviously intended as a meta reference to the wider world of video games,it confirms thatPokémonexists to an extent inSonic the Hedgehog’s world.
This joke, as casual as it is, could lay the foundations of a Sonic andPokémoncrossover in live-action. This has been a theory since the two franchises were translated into live-action and has also been a common debate since the late 1990s and the release of the firstPokémongame. With the confirmation inSonic the Hedgehog 3thatPokémonexists, what was a seemingly impossible crossover between the two franchises is now more likely than ever.
Sonic 3 Referencing Detective Pikachu Is Even Better Due To The Comparisons Between TheFranchises
The Live-Action Versions Of The Franchises Have Long Been Compared
To make the reference toDetective PikachuinSonic the Hedgehog 3even better, the movies have long been compared.Detective Pikachuwas released worldwide in March 2019 and the firstSonic the Hedgehogmovie was released less than a year later in February 2020. Given their proximity and the comparable nature of the two franchises in the video game world,Detective PikachuandSonic the Hedgehogbecame somewhat rivals.
Detective Pikachu
Cast
A loose adaptation of the video game of the same name, Detective Pikachu follows former Pokémon trainer Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) and Detective Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) as they set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Tim’s father, Harry. Tim’s investigation takes him and Detective Pikachu into the heart of a conspiracy that threatens to shake their native Ryme City - and the entire Pokémon world - to its very foundation.
Many praisedDetective Pikachufor its translation ofPokémoninto live-action, which was only increased whenSonic the Hedgehog’s infamous “Ugly Sonic” designwas unveiled. The two movies faced endless comparisons from their initial designs to their respective box office and critical reception. With all of these comparisons in mind, it makes theDetective Pikachureference inSonic the Hedgehog 3even better. In a way,this reference proves that both franchises can rise above the comparisons placed on them by fans and coexist in the world of video game movies.
Tails Does Look Like A Pokémon From Detective Pikachu When You Think About It
The final element that makes theDetective Pikachureference inSonic the Hedgehog 3even better is that it is grounded in truth. Rather than being a throwaway reference to another popular franchise for the sake of it, Tails actually could pass for aPokémoninDetective Pikachu’s live-action world. When viewing Tails in comparison to thePokémongames, this joke would fall somewhat flat. However,the design techniques used for the live-actionPokémonin the 2019 film are similar to those used for Tails, Sonic, Shadow, and Knuckles.
One of the more shocking, yet deceitfully realistic, design elements ofDetective Pikachuwas that the titular character had fur. The fluffiness of Pikachu and otherPokémontook audiences by surprise, as the 2D sprites in the games did not convey this. That said, withPokémonbeing based on animals like dogs, wolves, cats, and mice, in Pikachu’s case, these fluffy designs begin to make sense when depicting how the variousPokémonwould look in a real-world setting.
Every Pokémon In Detective Pikachu
Detective Pikachu is packed with Pokémon of all different types, particularly from the first generation, from a “detective Pikachu” to Mewtwo.
Concerning Tails, his design looks more like a fluffyPokémonthan the likes of Sonic, Knuckles, and Shadow. The latter three are based on spiky animals, whereas Tails is supposed to be an anthropomorphic fox. Therefore, the fluffy design works for Tails but does bring to mind the titular character ofDetective Pikachu. To add to this, Tails has, well, tails that look akin to animals like Ninetales and Vulpix. This proves that theDetective Pikachujoke is grounded in truth inSonic the Hedgehog 3, all while teasing that a long-awaited crossover could finally happen.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reunites Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they face a formidable new adversary, Shadow. With Shadow’s unprecedented powers posing a significant threat, Team Sonic seeks an unexpected alliance to thwart his plans and safeguard the planet.
